VOLUNTEERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 21

VOLUNTEERS.

NEW REGULATIONS. New volunteer regulations are gazetteiThese provide for the following strength of corps: — Mounted 60, and not less than 40 members; naval and garrison artillery 100, and not less than 60; submarine miners 100, and not less than 40 ; field artillery, six guns, 88, and not less than 60; do, four guns, 60, and not less than 40; engineers 60, and nofc less than 40; rifle corps 60, and not less than 40 ; cycle corps 25, bearer corps 25. The strength of all branches in each district is provided for. In the Dunedin district the numbers are': — Four mountecT corps, 252 men;* 3 naval and artillery, 312 men; 1 field artillery of six guns, 92 men ; 1 engineer corps, 63 men ; 16 rifle corps, 1008 men ; 1 cycle «orps, 27 men; 1 bearer «orps, 27 men; 1 Garrison Band, 26 men.

Cyclo corps officers rank aa lieutenants, passing the examination of officers of infantry. Medical officers who have been on actual service reckon a year of such service in seniority. From a list of the medical staff the principal medical officers of the district shall bo taken, and on completing 20 years of service shall rank as Brigade Burgeons, Lieut.colonel; a medical officer with 12 years' service shall become Surgeon-major. The Sur-geon-general is appointed by the Governor from time to time. Medical officers are- to make arrangements to ensure four men fcom each"" corps being instructed in stretcher and field dressing. Bearer and cycle corps will be attached to ,the, battalions at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. A Garrison Band is allowed to each centre, drawing allowance of £25 a year to each band. Bandsmen to enrol as volunteers or earn capitation on becoming efficient musicians, also to undergo a course of ambulance drill, and to receive 2s 6d per day for ceremonial parades, guards of honour, etc., as the district officer may direct. The drill oE naval and garrison artillery will be confined principally to heavy guns and submarine mining. To earn capitation, each corps must go ito camp 14- days in each year. Every man must be present, and sleep in camp seven out of the 14 days, and attend at least 18 parades a year, three being afternoon parades, and two-thirds of the strength must be present on at least four parades a year. Bearer corps qualify according to regulations' for infantry, excepting in the musketry course, and each man must obtain a certificate from a board comprising the principal medical officer, the surgeon-captain, and a thiru to be appointed.

In engineers, infantry, cycle corps, ancl bands, each man shall attend 18 ' parades, three being whole afternoons, in a year. Twothirde of the strength must attend four parades a yenr. The cycle officer must certify each man has a serviceable bicycle, and is an expert rider. Cyclists must complete recruit course of infantry drill, and cyclist drill. The Medical Board may recommend annually the two most -proficient men in the bearer .'orpa for badges. These badges, with the exception of badges for gun-laying for field batteries, will carry a personal payment of "£l. Any man who can produce 'three, consecutive badges will be awarded a distinguishing badge, and allowed a further sum of £1. * Naval, garrison, or field, artillery, and submarine pining volunteer corps at Auckland, Wellington; Lyttelton, Dunedin, and Port Chalmers will go into camp of instruction at fhe works of defence for 16 days-" each year,'/ receiving an allowance of Is 6d per diem per man, in camp. Bearer and cycle corps may, for an annual camp of instruction, be attached for six days to any company of the headquarterß battalion during its annual camp, and will receive ,the same allowances. Ammunition in certain annual proportions will be allowed to volunteers of the several arms without payment.

Under the Volunteer regulations, the issue of small arms ammunition is fixed at 150 rounds per man, 50 of which are for purposes approved by the officer of the district.